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Welcome to MVParents.com

All parents want to be "Most Valuable Parents" who help their children and teens make smart choices and avoid pitfalls of growing up. Unlike advice sites, MVParents.com is your trusted, research-based resource for with tips, ideas, and strategies for raising smart, strong, responsible kids.

What makes MVParents.com unique?

MVParents.com is the only parenting Web site built on a foundation of Search Institute's Developmental Assets^®. The assets are 40 building blocks for growing up successfully. They offer a powerful and hopeful approach to parenting.

Asset building works. Research with millions of young people shows that more assets kids experience, the less likely they are to get into trouble and the more likely they are to thrive.

Every parent can build assets for every child at every age. Scroll over the icons below for a description of each category of assets—then find the ideas and tools to help you get started!

	External assets are positive relationships, opportunities and experiences that young people need from their families, schools, and communities.
	Support: Young people need to be surrounded by people who love, appreciate, and accept them. They need to spend time in places where people care about them.	Empowerment: Young people need to feel valued and valuable. This happens when youth feel safe and respected.	Boundaries and Expectations: Young people need clear rules, consistent consequences, and encouragement to always do their best.	Constructive Use of Time: Young people need opportunities outside of school to enjoy themselves, develop new skills, and build positive relationships with other youth and adults.
	Internal assets are the commitments, skills, beliefs, and values that give young people the personal strengths they need to make responsible choices.
	Commitment to Learning: Young people need a commitment to the lasting importance of learning and a belief in their own abilities.	Positive Values: Young people need to develop strong guiding values or principles to help them make healthy, faithful, and moral life choices.	Social Competencies: Young people need the skills to build positive relationships, put their values into action, and cope with new situations.	Positive Identity: Young people need a sense of their self-worth, power, purpose, and promise.
Learn more about the Developmental Assets

Parenting Matters: Positive Strategies for Parenting Challenges

Get positive, proactive, and down-to-earth guidance on how to respond to the changes and challenges of parenting in positive, healthy ways. Topics include underage drinking, family volunteering, curfews, school success, juggling work and family, and much more.

More Positive, Practical Resources

• Receive Everyday Parenting Ideas—Be encouraged, inspired, and guided with this free weekly electronic newsletter with practical tips for building assets for all ages of kids, from early childhood through adolescence.
• Share your Everyday Parenting Ideas on the MVParents Blog.—Become part of the MVParents community and tell us what what ideas you have tried.
• Get tips right now—Need help now? Go to the Idea Bank for quick tips on dozens of topics for all ages.
• Create your game plan—Download The Ultimate Playbook for Parenting—a creative parenting guide, which uses football metaphors to engage parents (especially dads) in how they can be asset builders.
• Find more resources—Find practical parenting books, posters, brochures, and other resources on building assets.
• eCards to encourage a friend or family member—Send an electronic “pat on the back” to encourage another parent, or a “thank you” to someone who has been an asset builder for your child.
• Tell a friend—Know someone who you think could benefit by learning more about asset-building through MVParents.com? Send a email that introduces them to our positive approach to parenting.